### nzherald.co.nz Breaking 11:30 AM Wednesday Nov 10, 2010Dunedin and Christchurch should keep neurosurgery units – panel
A panel of experts has recommended retaining neurosurgery services at both Dunedin and Christchurch hospitals. Director-General of Health Andrew Bridgman released the panel’s findings at a media conference in Wellington this morning.

Both Christchurch and Dunedin have provided neurosurgical services in the past, but five South Island district health boards (DHBs) had agreed the South Island would be best served by having one hospital providing them.

The Panel recommended the establishment of a “South Island Neurosurgical Service” with two “nodes”.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 11:33 10/11/2010Dunedin keeps neurosurgery services
The Southland Times
BREAKING NEWS: The South Island neurosurgery service will continue to have centres in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Under the new structure the Governance Board will be responsible for building one South Island neurosurgery service which will eventually have seven to eight neurosurgeons, with at least three in Dunedin. It will be chaired by Professor Andrew Kaye, the James Stewart Professor of Surgery and Head of Department of Surgery at the University of Melbourne and the Director of Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The service’s Dunedin department will have a heavy emphasis on academic neurosurgery, which involves both research and teaching and builds on the University of Otago’s internationally acclaimed neurosciences departments, the panel announced.

The University will appoint and support a Professor of Neurosurgery and a Senior Lecturer in Neurosurgery to be based in Dunedin.

### ODT Online Wed, 10 Nov 2010Neurosurgery to stay in Dunedin
The South Island neurosurgery service will continue to have centres in Dunedin and Christchurch but is facing some changes, Acting Director-General of Health Andrew Bridgman has announced.

Of Canterbury’s bid for all of the South Island’s neurosurgeons to be based at Christchurch Hospital, the panel said the DHB “grossly underestimated” the number of emergency cases which could strain the hospital’s facilities.